AMD Athlon Gold 3150GE socket: AM4
The AMD Athlon Gold 3150GE uses the AM4 socket. It is a 4-core Picasso efficient part at 35 W that fits 300, 400 and 500 series boards after a BIOS update.
- Socket
- AM4
- Launched
- July 21, 2020
- Cores and threads
- 4 and 4
- Default TDP
- 35 W
- Codename
- Picasso
- Segment
- Desktop
- Family
- AMD Athlon Gold
- Clocks
- 3.3 / 3.8 GHz
AMD Athlon Gold 3150GE specifications
| Cores | 4 |
|---|---|
| Threads | 4 |
| Core architecture | Zen+ (Picasso) |
| Clocks | 3.3 GHz base, up to 3.8 GHz boost |
| Cache | 4 MB L3 |
| Default TDP | 35 W |
| Manufacturing process | 12 nm |
| Memory support | DDR4-2933, two channels |
| PCI Express | PCIe 3.0 |
| Integrated graphics | Radeon Vega graphics |
| Multiplier | Locked |
| Package | AM4 (PGA1331) |
Motherboard compatibility
AMD Athlon Gold 3150GE needs a motherboard with a AM4 socket. Chipset by chipset data for this codename is not recorded yet. See the AM4 chipset list and the board maker's CPU support list.
AM4 at a glance
| Type | PGA, 1,331 contacts |
|---|---|
| Package size | 40 × 40 mm |
| Introduced | 2016 |
| Memory | DDR4 only |
| Cooler mounting holes | 54 × 90 mm |
What the Athlon Gold 3150GE is
The Athlon Gold 3150GE is a four core, four thread desktop processor in the Athlon 3000 series built on Zen+ with the Picasso codename. It runs at 3.3 GHz base with boost up to 3.8 GHz across 4 threads without simultaneous multithreading. Cache is 4 MB of L3, and the 12 nm process trims power for the same clocks over older 14 nm parts. AMD rates it at 35 W default TDP, and the multiplier is locked.
AMD built this chip for efficient desktops that need four real cores at low power. Four Zen+ cores cover office multitasking, browsing with many tabs and video calls without strain. The 35 W envelope suits small form factor boxes with simple cooling, where 65 W G twins need larger heatsinks.
The processor reached OEM channels on July 21 2020 as the efficient alternative to the 65 W 3150G. Four cores with Vega graphics and DDR4-2933 support place it in the office quad class of its era, where low power matters more than thread doubling. The CPU cooler compatibility by socket guide covers AM4 mounting for the small cooler that a 35 W chip needs.
Socket and motherboard compatibility
The Athlon Gold 3150GE fits the AM4 socket, a pin grid array design with 1331 pins on the processor itself. B450, B550, A520 and older 300 series boards accept it with a BIOS that includes Picasso Athlon support. OEM boards that shipped with Athlon 3000G series parts in 2019 often gain 3150GE support through the same BIOS line.
The board choice matters little for power, since four cores at 35 W draw less than many dual core unlocked parts. A 300 series board with basic VRMs runs the chip without strain, while a 500 series board adds newer USB and NVMe layouts for office builds. Before buying for an existing board, find the exact model on the maker CPU support page and read which BIOS version adds the GE part.
The efficient GE suffix marks 35 W parts against 65 W G twins with higher clocks. Boards that run a 65 W AMD Athlon Gold 3150G also run the 3150GE, but the reverse needs no power concern. The socket supports the chip wherever Picasso Athlon IDs are present in firmware.
Memory, PCIe and cooling
The memory controller supports DDR4-2933 across two channels on Picasso Athlon, with faster kits possible where the board allows. Office builders often pair four cores with 2 x 8 GB at 2933 MT/s, which keeps dual channel mode active for Vega graphics. There is no DDR5 path on AM4.
The processor exposes PCIe 3.0 lanes for graphics, storage and networking, but the board decides the split. Entry AM4 boards wire integrated Vega as the main display, plus SATA and one NVMe slot for office storage. Cooler mounting uses the AM4 pattern of holes spaced 54 × 90 mm. Tray GE parts ship without a boxed cooler, so a small AM4 unit covers stock operation at 35 W.
Four cores without thread doubling suit steady office loads. Multitasking across mail, browser and calls spreads over real cores rather than logical threads, which keeps latency even under load. Integrated Vega covers dual displays without a separate card, which keeps efficient builds quiet.
Upgrade paths
On the same socket, the 3150GE is itself a core count upgrade for owners of dual core Athlon AM4 chips, since it keeps the board and the DDR4 memory while doubling real cores. From the 3150GE upward, the next steps without leaving AM4 are the AMD Athlon Gold 3150G for higher clocks at 65 W, with Ryzen 3 parts such as the AMD Ryzen 3 3100 as the later step to Zen 2 with thread doubling. Each of those moves reuses the same board and cooler mounting.
Moving past AM4 entirely means a new board and DDR5 memory on AM5. For a buyer choosing efficient Athlon in 2020, the 3150GE suited 35 W OEM boxes, while the G twin asked 65 W for 200 MHz more base and 100 MHz more boost. The two share the socket, the memory type and Vega graphics, so either drops into the same boards with the right BIOS.
Used buyers meet simple rules. A 3150GE from a parted out office build needs a board whose support list names Picasso Athlon, fresh thermal paste and any AM4 cooler. The locked multiplier leaves no tuning headroom, but the main gain over dual core Athlon is four real cores for multitasking at low power.
Frequently asked questions
What socket does the AMD Athlon Gold 3150GE use?
It uses AM4, a pin grid array socket with 1331 pins on the processor. It needs a BIOS with Picasso Athlon support on 300, 400 and 500 series boards.
What memory does the Athlon Gold 3150GE support?
DDR4-2933 in two channels. Office builds often use 2 x 8 GB for dual channel graphics bandwidth. There is no DDR5 option on AM4.
Does the Athlon Gold 3150GE come with a cooler?
No. Tray GE parts ship without a boxed cooler. Any small AM4 cooler covers stock operation at 35 W, and mounting uses the AM4 54 × 90 mm pattern.
How does the 3150GE differ from the Athlon Gold 3150G?
The 3150GE is a 4-core 35 W part with 3.3 GHz base, while the AMD Athlon Gold 3150G is a 4-core 65 W part with 3.5 GHz base. Both share 4 threads, AM4 and Vega graphics.
Sources and verification
- List of AMD Athlon processors - Picasso 12nm 3150GE 4C4T (Wikipedia)
- Athlon - Zen-based Athlon on AM4 entry (Wikipedia)
- Socket AM4 - 1331 pins and DDR4 (Wikipedia)
Facts last checked against these sources on . Page last edited on .